Curtain rod guide



1950 BQKUBILIUNAS 2,520,217

CURTAIN ROD GUI DE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 INVENTOR.

BY B.v

Aug. 29, 1950 B. KUBILIUNAS 2,520,217

CURTAIN ROD GUIDE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTAIN ROD GUIDE Ignas B. Kubiliunas, Boston, Mass.

Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,519

9 Claims. (Cl. 223-405) This invention relates to an improved curtain rod guide which is designed to engage over one end of a Curtain rod and provide a slender tapering end for insertion through the heading of a curtain, especially one which has been freshly laundered and Whose adjacent heading portions may have become attached to one another. A preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplified by a guide which is applicable to a rod of the channel section type but it is not intended that the invention is to be limited to this or any other particular type of curtain rod.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, cheap and easily installed guide which can be quickly fitted to a curtain rod and which is capable of remaining firmly fixed in position until such time as the threading operation has been completed.

It is a further specific object of the invention to devise a guide which embodies in one simple retaining structure means for receiving and securing a relatively wide variety of curtain rod structures and especially adapted to receiving differently sized channel type curtain rods, either of the class in which rolled edges of such rods lie in spaced-apart relation or occur in close proximity to one another.

Owing to the wide diversification in sizes and shapes of rods indicated, there has been no satisfactory guide member capable of receiving and holding all of these various types. The curtain rod guide of the invention has been designed with this problem in mind and provides a means of engaging various forms and sizes of rods. An important feature of the invention is the provision of a tubular member open at one end and formed with a pair of converging barrels or guideways which are so shaped as to conform generally to the rolled. edges of curtain rods of the channel section type. These guideways constitute a very convenient means of accommodating a wide range of sizes and in one aspect constitute outstanding adaptability.

Another feature of the guide is the provision of a centrally located rib extending along one side of the tubular member to define the barrels or guideways referred to. The rib presents a bearing edge which is variably spaced from theopposite side of the tubular member to grip a portion of a curtain rod in the intervening space. The side of the tubular member immediately adjacent the bearing edge includes a relatively thin portion which cooperates with the bearing edge to yield slightly and resiliently hold a curtain rod at some point along the length of the guide.

. purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a detail perspective view illustrating a curtain rod or the open channel section type having one extremity engaged in the curtain rod guide of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the guide and further showing a rod engaged therewithin and indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the guide;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of theguide viewed from a point outside its open end;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, more clearly disclosing the tapering barrel construction of the guide;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 5 and further including a channel type curtain rod held in one position of engagement within the barrel portions;

Fig. 7 is a plan View of a slightly modified guide construction Fig. ,8 is an end elevational View of the guide shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken on the line l!]lll of Fig. 7;

Figs. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views further illustrating slightly modified forms of guide members;

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of a spring type curtain rod member;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a channel section type of curtain rod of the type in which the rolled edges lie in substantially abut-' ting relation;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the guide and rod shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the guide illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, illustrating a modified rib construction with a rod of open edge form fully engaged within the guide;

Fig. 17 is an elevational View further showing the modified rib of the guide indicated in Figs. 14 -1-6 inclusive;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line l8l8 of Fig. 17, and illustrating in broken lines a curtain rod in another position of engagement; v

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 18 but illustrating in broken lines still another 3 position of engagement of a curtain rod with the guide and also indicating still another modification of rib construction; and

Fig. 20 is a collective view of a series of different types of curtain rod elements with which the guide of the invention may be used.

In the structure shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, one of the more desirable forms of guide, made in accordance with the invention, has been shown attached to a curtain rod H! of the fiat channel section type. These channel rods are very widely used in preference to most other types and their general shape and construction are controlling factors in the design of the guide of the invention. Thus the rod It! includes rolled edges l2 joined by an intermediate body portion I4 to provide a relatively flat cross-sectional shape. The edges [2 lie in spaced-apart relation to form a shallow channel as shown. Curtain rods of this general shape are usually constructed of a thin sheet metal which has a limited amount of resilience when subjected to stress. This limited resilience characteristic, as well as the specific shape of the rod, is taken advantage of in constructing the guide members of the invention.

The guide member shown in Fig. 1 is denoted by the numeral [8 and comprises a relatively flat tubular body having one end open and an opposite end closed to present a thin tapering tip 20. The tip is preferably formed with convex surfaces 2! which meet to define a sharp curved edge as noted in Fig. 3. The closed end, with the tapering tip construction described, is designed to pass easily through the aperture of a heading of a curtain and in the case of adjacent portions of the heading becoming attached to one another, as may occur in the laundering of the curtain, the convex surfaces 2| function to force apart the adjacent heading portions without the edge of the curtain rod guide actually contacting any of the curtain material. This tends to avoid tearing or injuring fine fabrics in the general use of the device.

The tubular member l8 includes a relatively thick flat side 22 and a relatively thin fiat side 24. Projecting from the inner surface of the side 22 is a rib 26 which extends longitudinally of the tubular member to define a pair of barrel portions for converging guideways 28 and 30. The shape of the guideways is preferably chosen to correspond somewhat to the contour of the rolled edges of the curtain rod l so that at some points along the guide the rolled edges of the curtain rod will bear smoothly against the curved inner surfaces of the barrel portions. At the open end of the tubular member 18, the guideways are made relatively large and, it will be noted that they become progressively smaller in diameter, converging inwardly as they approach the tip 20. The overall width of the guideways at the open end of the guide may conveniently be chosen to exceed the width of larger sizes of most curtain rods of the channel section type as now manufactured and sold, while the width of the guideways at the extreme inner end may be chosen to be less than the minimum width of curtain rods of the channel section type employed, which arrangement insures that the rod will be forced into engagement with the barrel surfaces as noted above at some intermediate point.

The rib 26 is formed with sloping sides 32 and 34 which merge to form a bearing edge 36 as noted in Fig. 5. This bearing edge 36 is vari- 4 ably spaced from side 24 and at the open end of the tubular member, a relatively wide entranceway is formed between the bearing edge and the adjacent side 24 in which entranceway there may be entered the body portion 14 of the curtain rod ID, as has been suggested for example in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. The spacing between edge 36 and side 24, it will be observed, gradually decreases and thus provides a region along which a curtain rod of any given thickness will at some point become wedged into a substantially fixed position. Moreover the side 24 along those portions immediately opposite the bearing edge 36 is further made relatively thin so that this side has the ability to flex or yield to a limited extent and thus cooperate with the rolled edge I2 and bearing edge 36 in resiliently holding a curtain rod section in the manner suggested in Fig. 6.

In using the curtain rod guide, the curtain rod is held in one hand while the guide is entered over the head of the extremity of the rod, with the rolled edges passing into the two guideways 28 and 30. When the guide passes over the rod extremity, the rib 26 enters the channel of the rod and. the intermediate portion 14 of the rod slides along between the bearing edge 36 of the rib and the opposite side 24 of the guide. Since the space between the bearing edge and the side wall is only slightly in excess of the thickness of the curtain edge, the latter soon reaches a point where its mid-section comes into contact with the bearing edge and is wedged in place in the manner described above.

At the same time as the rod is moved inwardly its rolled portions come into contact with the curved inner surfaces of the barrel portions of the guide and the rod is thus placed under a stress so that its mid-portion is supported on the bearing edge, which acts as a fulcrum at one side while the two rolled portions of the curtain rod are forced into a position more clearly conforming to the curvature of the internal surface of the guide. The result of this action is to cause the mid-section of the curtain rod to flex slightly into an ached position as shown in Fig. 6. The relatively thin side wall portion 24 'of the guide yields slightly asthe rod assumes its bent position and thus cooperates with the rib 26 to resiliently hold the guide clamped on the rod in a relatively firm position. It will also be noted that as the rolled edges I2 of the guide move into contact with the curved tapering sides of the rib 26 at some point therealong, each edge becomes supported laterally and this tends to provide increased stability and maintenance of the rod in a fixed position within the guide.

In the form of guide shown in Figs. 1-6 inclusive, it will also be observed that the relatively thin wall portion 24 of the guide has been lightly strengthened by means of reinforced sections 3! which may, at points well within the mouth of the guide, be constructed to extend upwardly in the manner suggested in Fig. 5. The uppermost rounded surfaces 39 of sections 31 occur slightly above the level of the under surface of rib 26, as shown at one point along the length of the guide. Portions of the wall 24 lying between the sections 31 are kept thin and this arrangement further aids in developing a flexing action in both the curtain rod and the curtain rod guide so that a more positive resilient gripping may take place between the rib 26 and the curtain rod wall portion 24. It should be noted that the reinforced portions 31 increase in height as they extend inwardly of the'guide and at their outer ends'are spaced well below the guide member 26 to-facilitate the insertion of the rod in the guide.

In Figs 7-12 inclusive, I have shown another form of guide in which the thin wall portion 24 is constructed without reinforcement and for some types of channel section curtain rods it may be preferable to allow the intermediate wall portions M of such rods to be bent more closely to-the thin wall portion 24 as suggested in Fig. 9. In this latter figure, however, the rod has not been thrust into the guide to the fullest extent pos sible and a complete distortion of the intermediate wall portion M has not been illustrated'in this figure. If desired, other arrangements of reinforcing maybe resorted to such as that shown in Figs. 10l2 inclusive, in which relatively narrow thin wall portions 24 are defined by more closely disposed relieved shoulders 46 so that bending of the curtain rod guide can be caused to take place along sharper lines of bending.

In Fig. 14 another form of curtain rod guide s? has been illustrated, designed specifically to re ceive and secure therebetween a channel section type curtain rod such as the rod 42 also shown in Fig. 15. ihis type of curtain rod is characterized especially by rolled edges 44 and 4B which extend into very close proximity to one another and which may be completely in contact with one another in some more recent forms of these curtain rods now manufactured and sold. It is pointed out that in a rod of this type, there is little, if any, channel opening left into which the guide rib of a guide such as shown in Figs. l-l2 inclusive may be engaged. In order therefore to provide for a retaining means for both this type of closed channel section rod and the open channel rod, I have provided another form of rib d3 which is constructed with a recessed outer end to provide a tapering tip 49 which lies in spacedapart relation to a bearing edge 50. By means of this arrangement an open channel rod may be supported in the manner already described and noted broken lines in Fig. 16 in which case the surface 5! of guide rib 48 acts as a bearing.

In the case of the closed channel rod 42, however, the adjacent edges of such a member are passed between the tip and surface 50 as suggested in Fig. 18 and are at some point wedged between the tip and surface 50 with the tip extending into the curtain rod. The opposite surface cf the rod 42 is held against the guide side 56 which may as before be constructed with reinforced sections 55. An alternative to the tapering tip arrangement is a rib construction such as that shown in Fig. 19 in which numeral 6!] denotes a rib having a bearing edge 62 relieved at its outer end to provide a sloping edge 64. The edge B l is preferably made relatively thin which aids it to become centered with and to slide along the line of meeting 66 of the edges 44 and 46 of the closed channel rod 42.

It will be seen therefore that by limiting the length of the edge 64 in the manner shown in Fig. 19, the guide continues to be useful with open channel type rods and yet may receive and hold firmly a closed channel type rod, bearing against such a member at points above or against the closed edges 44 and 46 with the curved portion of these edges resting against the barrel portions of the guide in the manner already discussed.

The versatility of the guide is further exemplified by a consideration of the different types of curtain rod construction shown in Figs. 13 and 20,

6. which structure's maybe used in one way or an-i other. Thus the guide may be employed with a curtain rod 70 of'the spiral wire type as shown in Fig. 13. In this case, use is made of only one barrel portion of the guide as suggested at the left-hand side of Fig. 5. The curtain rod forms indicated in Fig. 20 illustrate various types of channel shapes and various degrees of spacing of the rolled'edges, any one or all of which may be received and held within the curtain rod guide of the invention when falling within the dimensional range of the latter member.

This application is a continuationein part of my earlier application Ser. No. 746,949, filed May 9, 1947.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail illustrative embodiments thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A curtain rod guide for a channel type ourtain rod having spaced-apart edges including an elongated hollow body having a relativel thin flexible wall extending along one side thereof, a rigid internal rib formed at an opposite continuous side of the hollow body, the rib presenting tapering sides which converge and extend into close proximity to the flexible wall and which terminate in a bearing edge, the bearing edge being relieved to provide a varying clearance between itself and the flexible wall and said tapering sides of the rib being adapted to constitute a variable spacing element against which edges of the said channel type curtain rod may engage at some point therealong.

2. A curtain rod guide for a channel type curtain rod having spaced-apart edges including a tubular body having a relatively thin flexible wall extending along one side thereof, a rigid internal rib formed at an opposite continuous side of the tubular body to define a pair of guideways which converge along either side of the rib, the rib ex tending into close proximity to the flexible wall and terminating in a bearing edge which is formed to provide a varying clearance between itself and the flexible wall said internal rib presenting converging sides against which spacedapart edges of the channel type curtain rod may engage at one point therealong.

3. A curtain rod guide for a curtain rod of the channel type having rolled edges lying in spacedapart relation to one another, the guide including an elongated hollow body having an open end and a relatively fiat wall extending along one side of the body, an internal rib formed at an opposite side of the hollow body and extending into close proximity to the relatively fiat wall, the rib defining a pair of converging guideways whose inner surfaces are curved, the said rib further presenting tapering sides which terminate in a bearing edge, the bearing edge changing in height from the open end of the hollow body toward the tip thereof to provide a varying clearance between itself and the fiat wall portion for adjustably and resiliently gripping a curtain rod member therebetween.

4. A curtain rod guide as defined in claim 1 in which the rib is recessed to provide a projecting tip which extends inwardly of the guide for a short distance in spaced relation to the two opposite sides of the guide.

5. A curtain rod as defined, in claim 1 in which the rib is formed with a notched portion.

6. A curtain rod guide comprising a tubular member formed with an opening for receiving a channel type curtain rod therein, the tubular member having a thin flexibleside wall'exte'nding along one side thereof, the flexible side wall being adapted to receive and support the central body portion of a channel-type curtain rod when located in the tubular opening of the guide, a rigid rib formed centrally in an opposite con-' tinuous side wall of the guide, the rib extending into close proximity with the flexible wall and terminating in a longitudinally projecting bearing edge adapted to engage against and flex the said central body portion of the curtain rod at one point.

7. In a curtain rod guide, a hollow body open at one end for receiving a curtain rod, 2. thin flexible wall portion constructed and arranged to receive the side of a curtain rod member thereagainst, a rigid rib extending centrally along an opposite side of the hollow body and formed with an irregular bearing edge, the rib and flexible wall portions cooperating to flex and hold intermediate portions of a curtain rod member therebetween at points determined by the size of the curtain rod member.

8. A curtain rod guide comprising a hollow tapered body having a relatively thin flexible 8 wall extending along one side thereof, a rigid internal rib formed along intermediate portions of an opposite side of the hollow body, the rib extending into close proximity to the said flexible wall and terminating in a bearing edge.

9. A curtain rod guide comprising a tapered hollow body having a relatively thin flexible wall extending along one side thereof, the opposite side of the hollow body being thickened at intermediate portions to form a rigid internal rib which extends longitudinally of the side, said rib extending into close proximity to the said flexible wall and terminating in a bearing edge which presents a variable clearance between itself and the thin flexible wall.

IGNAS B. KUBILIUNAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,920,046 Winberg July 25, 1933 2,170,674 Auslander Aug. 22, 1939 

